Toowoomba Regional Council returns updated Central Highfields Master Plan to public consultation with new features

A planned town centre for one of the region’s fastest-growing communities has been updated for the first time in seven years, with residents now able to give feedback on it. What’s new in the plan.

A public transport hub and tree-lined boulevards are among the new features of the updated plan for Highfields’ long-awaited town centre, which is back before public consultation.

Toowoomba Regional Council has released a 2025 edition of the Central Highfields Master Plan for residents’ feedback, which comes nearly seven years after the document was first endorsed in 2018.

The latest proposal, which is more concentrated around the land the council bought from Clive Berghofer in 2017, would create tree-lined boulevards, a new community civic space, an expansion of the existing fire station, a new health precinct and high street activation to blend residential and commercial uses.

Councillor Tim McMahon said the new master plan notably proposed a new public transport node with “park and ride” facilities to allow people to commute between Highfields and Toowoomba.

“The community has played an important role in creating the broad vision for the future of Highfields,” Mr McMahon said.

“We want to hear feedback from residents on the updated master plan to help us progress the planning process that will cater for Highfields’ projected population growth and the community’s future needs.

“There are great features in this master plan, including the public transport hub, which will be adjacent to the commercial centre and will include park and ride facilities and links to active transport networks.

“Together, we can ensure Highfields’ evolution is well planned and delivers a range of suitable social, cultural and community infrastructure, which could include a mixture of recreation and event spaces.”

Residents and business owners in Highfields have been urging the council to move the project forward for years, with its development held up due to a variety of reasons.

But progress has been made over the past 12 months, including vital realignment works at the intersection of O’Brien and Kratzke roads.

Residents and other stakeholders can fill out the survey on the website before February 17 at 5pm.

For further queries about the project, contact the council at [e-mail] or on 131 872.